On the road: Medical students’ experiences on paramedic placements

Figures & data

Table

Practice points

Paramedic placements provide medical students with opportunities to apply clinical and communication skills, to witness relationships between socioeconomic factors and health and learn. Paramedic placements are ideal introductions to inter-professional health care. Formal orientation for Paramedic staff, students and hospital emergency staff will optimise achievement of placement outcomes. Students encounter many challenging situations (violence, trauma, death) for which debriefing and counselling should be available. Ensure that ‘excitement’ does not overshadow learning opportunities on these types of placements.

Table 1.  Descriptive statistics for Paramedic Post-Placement Survey questions (n = 33).

Item	Mean	SD
1.1 The placement generally increased my interest/motivation in medicine.	4.97	0.17
1.2 The placement specifically increased my interest in emergency medicine.	4.03	0.95
1.3 I was well prepared for the placement.	3.52	0.67
1.4 I was able to apply my communication and clinical skills on the placement.	3.76	0.94
1.5 I gained a good understanding of the role and responsibilities of Ambulance/Paramedic officers through this placement.	4.45	0.56
1.6 I gained a good understanding of the relationships between Paramedics and clinicians through this placement.	4.00	0.97
1.7 I gained a good understanding of the relationships between Paramedics and other health care workers through this placement.	4.03	0.81
1.8 I gained a better insight into patient-centred care through this placement.	3.91	0.72
1.9 I gained a good insight into the range of health problems experienced by people in personal and community settings.	4.09	0.81
1.10 Overall, the placement was a valuable learning experience.	4.64	0.55
1.11 The placements should be continued next year.	4.88	0.33

Scores range from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 5.

Figure 1. Frequency and range of experiences reported by medical students on paramedic placement.